MRC Newsletter - Issue 9 - 19 June 2024
Prayer
God of life,
we praise you for the beauty of creation,
its richness and variety;
yet, through greed and ignorance,
we scar your world with plastic waste
and throw so much away.
Make us more like Jesus,
treading gently on our common home,
and breathe your Spirit on us,
that we may care more deeply for your Earth.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Principal's Message
This week, we honour the brave individuals and families who have journeyed to Australia and into our communities as refugees. Expressive of our Christian values of compassion and love, the theme "Finding Freedom - Family" raises awareness of refugee issues to our Mercy Regional College community by highlighting the experiences of refugees and fostering understanding. Freedom, as envisioned in our faith, means living without the fear of war, having basic human rights upheld, and experiencing equality without the threat of persecution. By promoting harmony and togetherness, we follow Christ’s example of welcoming the stranger, uniting diverse individuals, communities, and organisations in supporting our region’s refugees, and reminding us of our shared humanity. Our young people will have the opportunity to watch the ABC’s You Can’t Ask That - Refugee Experiences on Arriving in Australia to help grow their understanding and awareness of what it means to be a refugee, the difference between asylum seekers and refugees and the reasons why some people flee their countries.
I have had the great pleasure this past fortnight to be involved in finalising the successful recipients of our 2024 Spirit of Mercy and Young Spirit of Mercy Alumni Awards. Thank you to all who nominated the pool of most worthy former students. Our event this year will be hosted on Saturday 26 October and will also include recognition of current and former staff who have given 15 or more years of dedicated service to Mercy Regional College (Catholic Regional College). This occasion is a great celebration of Mercy Regional College. A list of recipients and their achievements will be available soon, as will tickets to the event.
Our current School Improvement Plan will come to a conclusion at the end of 2024. Our three priority improvement areas were identified through a thorough data collection process and then designed through a collaborative writing process, with both processes inclusive of staff, students, school advisory council members and parents and carers. Our current three priority areas of focus are:
- Priority #1 - Vision and Mission - Ensure all guiding documents are reflective of the College’s current context and vision for future provision of Catholic education.
- MRC Vision, Mission, Values and Mantra
- MRC Vision for Learning
- MRC Reconciliation Action Plan
- MRC Wellbeing Framework
- Priority #2 - Leadership and Stewardship - Design and implement a professional and personal learning program inclusive of coaching and mentoring for Position of Leadership holders and staff wishing to develop their leadership skills and capabilities.
- Priority #3 - Learning and Teaching - Enhance the MRC learning culture to inspire and enable all to achieve their best.
At the beginning of Semester 2, we will commence our School Review Process to determine our School Improvement Plan for the next five years. This will again begin with community data collection. All staff and students will complete the Insight SRC School Improvement Framework survey, a survey tool used by all Catholic schools in the Diocese of Ballarat. This survey will also be shared with our current parents and carers. I ask that you please take the time to complete this survey as the voice of parents and carers is vital in ensuring our school is prioritising our resources on the areas that will bring the most meaningful improvement to holistic student learning outcomes and experiences for the young people you care for. Parents and carers have the opportunity to reflect on - Learning Opportunity, Community Engagement, Student Engagement, Staff Engagement, Peer Relations and Student Behaviour.
We wish our Senior football team all the very best as they take on Damascus College in the grand final of the Ballarat Associated Schools (BAS) Division 2 competition on Wednesday evening. This game will be played under lights on Wednesday evening at 5.15pm, hosted at Ballarat Grammar School. We wish the team every success and thank all Year 10-12 players who have been in the 40 strong squad this term in our inaugural season. Thank you to volunteer coach Wayne Robertson and MRC staff members Darren Cheesman, Troy Stephens and Trainee Lucas Williams who have supported the team each week. Our Senior Girls Netball completed their BAS competition last week. The squad of 11 girls from Years 9 - 12 inclusive were worthy participants in the highly skilled Division 1 competition. The girls finished fourth overall and had some brilliant games with a highlight being a draw with Ballarat and Clarendon College in the second round after being beaten by BCC by 18 goals previously. A huge turn around and great indication of their improvement across the season. Thank you to my co- coach Emily Stephens and Team Manager Jordan Muller.
We have some exciting learning opportunities happening at present. I thank agriculture and outdoor and environmental studies teacher Tom Kelly for his dedicated work that is coming to fruition. Our three Cows Create Careers Project calves - Cheesie, Ludes and Jez- are thriving as part of our Agricultural Studies classes. Thank you to Fr Neville for hosting them. The yard of our Riches House has a renewed vegetable garden and greenhouse as well as a deluxe chicken pen, making great use of our facilities.
Staffing news
We welcome new teacher Ms Laura Flanagan from Texas, USA to our O’Keeffe campus commencing Term 3. Laura will be teaching Year 7 Performing Arts - Music, Year 7 & 8 Humanities and Year 8 RE. We thank Mr Peter Liepins who has been covering these Humanities classes this term as Laura’s Visa and VIT registration were processed. We also thank Mx Remi Donnison and Mrs Sharyn Grinter for their work in covering Luke and Mel Bourchier whilst they have been on leave this term. We are also preparing to welcome Ms Sarah Gilchrist, joining us from Wexford, Ireland. Sarah will be teaching Year 9, 10 and 11 English and Year 8 Humanities. Sarah’s Visa and VIT application are in progress hopefully for a beginning of Term 3 start. I thank our current teachers who have been teaching additional classes whilst we await Sarah’s arrival. Teacher Stacey Madden will be taking Term 3 as Long Service Leave. We wish Stacey every best wish as she and her family spend some quality time together. Stacey’s classes will be covered by Mrs Mel Kavenagh and Ms Tia Stinchcombe. Teacher Erynne Ewenson is also taking leave until the end of the year. Erynne’s Science classes are being covered by our current staff.
I share with you the news that Deputy Principal Natalie Stephenson will conclude her time at Mercy Regional College at the end of 2024. As you may be aware, Natalie sustained a significant injury to her back earlier this year. Natalie’s injury now requires significant rehabilitation. Natalie has made the difficult decision to step down from leadership responsibilities so that she can find more time to support her recovery. I thank Natalie sincerely for her significant work in improving student learning outcomes and for her support during her time at MRC. We will advertise for a Deputy Principal to commence in January 2025 this week.
A reminder that we will be advertising this week for a College Counsellor/Wellbeing Officer commencing 2025. Current College Counsellor Sharon Suhan will finish at the end of the year and we thank Sharon for her dedicated work. We are also seeking expressions of interest for teaching and education support staff for 2025, including graduate teachers and Permission To Teach interns. Please share what a great school and community MRC is with any interested teachers and potential education support staff.
Our Year 10 and 11 students are well into the process of choosing their learning pathway and subjects for 2025. Thank you to the many parents and carers who attended our Subject Selection Evening last week led by Learning leader - Senior Years Mrs Melanie Kavanagh. Most importantly information relating to the new VCE model with pathways inclusive of singular or hybrid VCE, VCE VET and VCE VM pathways were explained. Our young people have a wonderful opportunity to curate the learning pathway that best meets their goals, learning aspirations and interests. All students in both Years 11 and 10 also have a one to one pathway and subject interviews with a member of staff with parents/carers most welcome to attend. Elective subject selection for students currently in Year 9 and Year 8 will take place early in Term 3. Our Mercy Pathways - 2025 Subject Selection and Pathways Booklet Years 9-12 is available on our website.
A reminder that we welcome Bishop Paul Bird to St Patrick’s Church Camperdown to celebrate Mass at St Patrick’s at 10.00am on Sunday 23 June. A luncheon will then be hosted by the St Patrick’s parish in the MRC library. Please RSVP your attendance at dinner on Saturday evening and/or the Sunday luncheon to Jordy Muller on 0403 511 995 or jmuller@mercy.vic.edu.au.
We also acknowledge the valued service to our school and community of Fr Gary Jones, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Mercy Hampden Parish. Fr Gary will say his final Sunday Mass at Mortlake on 7 July at 9am and at Terang on 14 July at 10:30am.
We welcome Bishop Paul Bird to St Patrick’s Church Camperdown as part of his tour of the Ballarat Diocese in its 150th year.
Bishop Paul will celebrate Mass at St Patrick’s at 10.00am on Sunday 23 June. A luncheon will then be hosted by the St Patrick’s Parish in the MRC library.
Please RSVP your attendance to Jordy on 0403 511 995 or jmuller@mercy.vic.edu.au
- Congratulations Charlotte B on winning the sketching competition for the cover of for the new Camperdown/Cobden phone directory.
- Flynn R & Matilda K participated in the Victorian Country Championships in volleyball over the long weekend. They both represented the South West Pirates, with Flynn making it to the Division 3 men’s quarterfinals and Matilda winning a bronze medal in Division.
- Hugo C & Rusty P participated in the POWRi Jettco Developments Nationals at Lake Liddell Speedbowl over the long weekend. Rusty came in 7th, and Hugo won the event and is now ranked number 1 in Australia for the Junior 500’s wingless sprintcars.
With just three weeks of the term to go it is important to keep your eye on the school calendar. Some important upcoming dates include:
- HCSN Taster Day for Year 6 students - Monday 24 June
- Our final day for students this term is Thursday 27 June with a normal time finish for students. This day will be a Winter Woolies casual dress day and we ask all students and staff to bring along a gold coin donation and goods needed by Warrnambool and District Food Share - healthy cereals and breakfast spreads - and non-perishable food and toiletry items for St Vincent de Paul.
- Staff Professional Learning Day - Teach Like a Champion - Student Free - Friday 28 June
Thank you for your kindness and generosity,
Sharon Gillett - Principal
Learning at MRC
End of Semester ReportsEnd of Semester Reports will be available online through PAM on the afternoon of Thursday 27th June. The report contains information about the work undertaken in each subject over the course of the semester. The report layout includes:
Detailed information, including teacher comments, about individual Assessment Tasks is available in PAM (Parent Access Module). This information is updated in PAM as the tasks are completed and I encourage parents to regularly check your child's progress. Included on PAM is an acknowledgement that you have seen the report. We ask that you make this acknowledgement on the PAM system. (Your PAM account requires a valid and current email address to be verified. Without a verified email address, you may be missing communication from your child’s subject teacher. To ensure you are receiving all email communication please logon to PAM and verify your preferred email address. Please contact reception@mercy.vic.edu.au if you have any difficulties.) Report conversationsTalking to your child about the contents of the report is a valuable way to assist them to grow and develop an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. It not only provides feedback for you about your child's educational journey, it also allows your child to process the contents of the report, and with your assistance develop strategies to support their learning moving forward. Throughout the conversation with your child, remember to look for the positives: your child's strengths and the progress they are making. Talk about what might help them in areas they are doing well in, as well as those they are finding challenging. If your child is disappointed, point out the positives. Say: You tried really hard in (subject). I know you are having some difficulties, but look at what you have learnt this year. It is important to ask your child: What do you think of the result (for the subject)? Talking about this helps you open up a conversation about the factors that enhance learning and those that hinder it. It allows you to talk about strategies that your child can use to help make their learning journey a smooth one.
Leanne Delahunty |
Leanne Delahunty - Director of Learning and Teaching
Middle School
As we near the end of term students have been focused on completing their assessment tasks across all their subjects. Reports are currently being completed by teachers and will be available to families from Thursday next week. Year 10 students have also attended the VCE subject selection night last Wednesday and then attended the subject Expo the next day. There have been a lot of good conversations around school about pathways and options in the ensuing days. Please ensure that you are continuing the discussions at home, and if you missed out on the VCE evening or need any further information please contact Melanie Kavanagh or myself, Josiane Gardner and we would be happy to help. The Year 9 students will be given the opportunity this week for a preliminary expression of interest in their electives for next year. They will have the chance to select from a long list of elective options to ensure we are able to offer subjects which appeal to the maximum number of students in 2025. They will then make their final subject selections in Term 3 from a shortlist that we come up with based on interest. Please open up the discussion with them at home about what subjects sounded interesting to them and what they are thinking their pathways may be beyond year 10. All those discussions will help them to make informed choices for next year. Josiane Gardner |
Learning in the Local Environment
As part of their learning about conservation, recreation and economic relationships with outdoor environments, Year 12 ODE students made their way to the coast for the day to explore these topics first hand. Our first stop was Weeaproinah in the Otways where we caught up with a local James Kidman who harvests Blackwood trees for boutique timber to be used for high end guitars. At his property, James spoke about the complexities of the recent native logging ban across Victoria and how this has impacted his work. James gave us examples of sustainable harvesting and what this looks like and spoke about how he has lobbied to raise awareness of this issue.
Following this we entered Apollo Bay and made our way to the outskirts of the Barham river where we met up with local landcare representative Abby who enabled a conservation experience for us. At the steep site of the river we walked in with 7-8 trays of indigenous seedlings to plant to protect the banks of the river from erosion. For some students this was their first tubestock planting experience, and they were absolutely brilliant as we must have planted at least 100 plants in the area.
After a quick lunch our final activity then included a change of scenery from the river to the ocean, this time in a kayak. As we paddled out of the main beach at Apollo Bay our instructor Quinn told us about the impact primary industries including fishing has on the town and how this has declined over time. Albert and Quinn also mentioned how the beach had changed a great deal over the 20-30 years they had grown up in the town, with the sand dunes being so heavily impacted. This was a great opportunity to engage in an aquatic activity while here and in turn was an exciting end to the excursion. Thanks to Berni Sinnott for so readily assisting.
Tom Kelly
Eco Justice and Sustainability Leader
Year 12 ODE
Great work in 8B French
Ava B, Jess M and Jess McD are each showing one slide of their recent assessment task. It is part of a creatively constructed slideshow, presenting a person of their choice in French. Fantastique! Super bien!
Monika Socha
French and English Teacher
Community & Wellbeing at MRC
We are excited to have our first ‘Girls Day In’ this week for our Year 7 &8 girls. A brilliant, engaging program has been designed to develop friendships, mental health, confidence and fun! There has been plenty of work happening behind the scenes to design this day and we look forward to it coming to life.
The Year 7 & 8 boys will be involved with an external program called the ‘Man Cave’. This program aims to work with our year 7 & 8 cohort of boys to enhance mental health, empowerment and developing emotional intelligence. We are excited to have this program for our young boys. We hope you have some great conversations at home regarding both of these days.
As we approach the last two weeks before our much-deserved break, it’s crucial to focus on our wellbeing and build up our resistance to fatigue. Balancing academic responsibilities with personal health can be challenging, but with the right strategies, we can finish strong and start our break feeling refreshed. The middle of the year can present some challenges particularly as winter is well and truly upon us, we continue to battle some sickness, cold and flu and some covid.
Setting some small goals particularly for the next two weeks:
- Understand that it’s okay not to be perfect. Set realistic goals for what you want to achieve in the next two weeks.
- Celebrate your progress, no matter how small.
- Recognise your efforts and give yourself credit for the hard work you’re putting in.
By focusing on these strategies, we can boost our fatigue resistance and make it through the next two weeks with resilience and positivity. Remember, the break is just around the corner, and the efforts we put in now will make our time off even more rewarding. Keep pushing forward—you’ve got this!
Staying active for health and wellbeing
I’m a big believer in staying active and how this can improve our emotional, social, physical and mental health. We are in the process of studying the benefits of being physically active in Unit 2 PE. Physical activity boosts energy levels and reduces stress. Even a short walk or a quick workout can clear your mind and invigorate your body. Try to incorporate at least 30 minutes of exercise into your daily routine. It’s a great way to take a break from studying and return to your work with a fresh perspective.
You will see the launching of MRC’s RAP and also wellbeing framework on our website in the coming days. These documents have had a collection of people working on over the last 2 years to bring to life. They are unique to our school and contain some great understanding of what we continue to work towards in the space of Wellbeing and Cultural understanding.
Emily Stephens - Assistant Principal, Wellbeing & Engagement
Library News
Zine Workshops in the Library
In term 3 students from Years 7 & 8 will be invited to Zine Making Workshops in the Library at lunchtime.
What is a Zine?
They are self-published magazines. Zine is short for fanzine, which is short for fan magazine. Magazines and Zines are significantly different. A zine is often made by a single person or a small group of individuals whenever they feel like it, as opposed to a magazine which needs an editorial team and a fixed publishing schedule.
Zines are usually free or inexpensive because they are a medium of communication, intending to develop identity rather than to make profit. It can be written by one person or a small group of people, allowing them to express their thoughts and artistic vision. Zines can cover any kind of topic you wish. Think of a zine as a physical version of an instagram page or a blog. It's a tangible, analog way to get your ideas/art out to people. It's the way most underground artists and writers disseminated their ideas pre-internet between the 1970s and mid-2000s.
Zines can also be a creative and enjoyable way to present your school work.
Zine makers are often referred to as Zinesters and there are communities of Zinesters around the world. In Melbourne, The Sticky Institute is a well-known place for members and fans to buy, swap, sell and duplicate Zines.
Book Club
The MRC Book Club for Term 3 is The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland.
"The most enchanting debut novel of 2018, this is an irresistible, deeply moving and romantic story of a young girl, daughter of an abusive father, who has to learn the hard way that she can break the patterns of the past, live on her own terms and find her own strength.
After her family suffers a tragedy when she is nine years old, Alice Hart is forced to leave her idyllic seaside home. She is taken in by her estranged grandmother, June, a flower farmer who raises Alice on the language of Australian native flowers, a way to say the things that are too hard to speak. But Alice also learns that there are secrets within secrets about her past. Under the watchful eye of June and The Flowers, women who run the farm, Alice grows up. But an unexpected betrayal sends her reeling, and she flees to the dramatically beautiful central Australian desert. Alice thinks she has found solace, until she falls in love with Dylan, a charismatic and ultimately dangerous man.
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is a story about stories: those we inherit, those we select to define us, and those we decide to hide. It is a novel about the secrets we keep and how they haunt us, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive. Spanning twenty years, set between the lush sugar cane fields by the sea, a native Australian flower farm, and a celestial crater in the central desert, Alice must go on a journey to discover that the most powerful story she will ever possess is her own." (Synopsis from Goodreads)
The date for Book Club in Term 3 is to be confirmed. Contact via email
You can join the Book Club Facebook group here:
You can find us on Facebook at:
Mercy Regional College Book Club
Jean Christie - Library & Resource Centre Coordinator
2025 Enrolments Now Open
CSEF Applications Closing Soon
A reminder that Camps, Sports Excursion Fund applications close at the end of Term 2.
Careers
Check out the latest Careers Newsletters below:
Child Safety
Mercy Regional College is a child-safe community.
Child Safety Officers:
Emily Stephens
estephens@mercy.vic.edu.au
Matthew Irving
mirving@mercy.vic.edu.au
Sharon Suhan
ssuhan@mercy.vic.edu.au
Chadley Peerman
cpeerman@mercy.vic.edu.au
Contact them by email or on:
Phone - 55932011 (McAuley Campus) or 55925353 (O’Keeffe Campus)
Upcoming Dates and Events
Monday 17 June
Refugee Week Begins
Wednesday 19 June
Community Meal
O'Keeffe Student Book Club
BAS Sports Football Final
Thursday 21 June
Y10 into Y11 Student Interviews
Friday 21 June
Y10 into Y11 Student Interviews
Monday 24 June
HCSN Taster Day
VCE PE excursion
Vis Comm excursion
Wednesday 26 June
GWR Junior Girls Netball - Ballarat
Thursday 27 June
Last day of term for students
Reports Released
Winter Woolies Day
Friday 28 June
Student-free Day
(Staff Professional Learning Day)
Term 3
Monday 15 July
Term 3 commences
Community Notices
Rotary Terang is sending a crate of much-needed goods to Botswana.
Rotary Botswana is in desperate need of:
- Baby clothes - up to Size One,
- Warm blankets
- Wheelchairs
- Primary school age books
- Secondhand eyeglasses
- Secondhand hearing aids
- We are also seeking any knitters that would like to make crocheted squares (joined or unjoined), lap sized blankets or baby clothes.
Donated goods can be left at:
- Future Freight
- Stihl Shop
- Mercy Regional College
The crate will be sent within the next two weeks
For any enquiries, contact:
Michele Smith
Future Freight
43 Fergusson St
Camperdown Vic 3260
Ph: 03 55933836
Chele@futurefreight.com.au
Some great opportunities for young people
eJunior Podcasters, we have an event for you! 09 July 2024, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm 77 Flaxman St, Warrnambool Next school holidays, journalist and podcaster Kirsten Diprose along with comedian and podcaster Damian Callinan will run an introduction to podcasting at One Day Studios and the Fletcher Jones Family Foundations. Learn how to write, record, and edit your podcasts, and find out what goes in to making a successful podcast. All materials and equipment provided! Extremely limited spots for this awesome event so don't miss out. Tickets here: https://www.
Corangamite young people get some great experience in event planning and management by volunteering for the Youth Showcase happening in Terang 8 September. Check it out Youth Showcase 2024
30 young individuals aged 13-17 are invited to participate in online consultations focused on the digital landscape and data protection. We're eager to hear from young people about the future of the digital world and how data protection impacts them. Participants will receive a $75 voucher for each session attended. Please share this opportunity with teens who have an interest in digital technology! Apply here: https://ayac.typeform. Orygen is offering 30 scholarships to people with lived experience of mental ill-health, to undertake our Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work (Consumer Peer Work). These scholarships aim to support a career pathway into mental health and to prepare students for peer support roles across the sector. Applications are now open here: https://bit.ly/46QYFle
If you are a young person aged 16-25, Prevention United want you to share your experiences and views on mental health policy in just 10 - 15 minutes. You can also enter a draw for one of five $50 vouchers! Reach out to youth@preventionunited.org.
